Page 35 of Fight for Me
Not to mention I’m fighting the urge to go to her constantly. At least now, I have a reason. If we’re friends, we can see each other, and I plan to do exactly that.
“Be careful with her, Dec. You both want very different things, and I worry that both of you will end up hurt.” She raises her hand when I open my mouth. “No, I don’t want to say anything else and I promise to stay out of it, but I love you both. You’re family, and Syd is like a sister to me.”
“Yo! Loser! Are you planning to go shopping or are you coming fishing?” Connor yells as he swings Hadley up into his arms.
Ellie sighs and then rolls her eyes. “You go, I’m sorry and I hope you don’t think I overstepped.”
I lean in and kiss her cheek. “I think we’re all very lucky you’re a part of our lives.”
She blushes and then shoos me away. I rush toward the barn, and Connor calls out, “I think we should take the quads.”
I let out a throaty laugh. “I haven’t ridden a quad since we were kids.”
“You think you suddenly forgot how in eight years?”
“No, and I’ll race you there.”
He looks down at Hadley. “If I didn’t have my daughter on my lap, I would take you up on that and kick your ass with a smile.”
Cocky asshole. “You forget who beats you at everything.”
“I beg to differ.”
“Name one thing.”
“Women.”
I cover Hadley’s eyes with my hand and flip him off with my other. “You wish.”
“I’m engaged, and you’re …”
“Going to kill you.”
He laughs and tosses me the keys to the quad. “You’d have to catch me first.”
We get to the creek, wind blowing and slightly cold, but there is a rush that I haven’t felt in so long humming in my veins. There were things about the country I loved. The clean air, trees, the night sky, and the fact that being outdoors was always preferable.
When I’m home, this is not my reality.
I work.
I work and work and work more in my office, stopping only to eat and drag my ass back to my apartment.
But I’ve been content, so I’ve let this part of myself go.
Seems the next six months will remind me of everything I used to love.
Once Hadley is set up with her pole and we all have our areas on the creek, Connor makes his way over.
“You really made her day by coming,” he says with a hint of appreciation in his voice.
“She’s my niece, and it’s my job to win my spot as the favorite.”
“You mean before Sean gets here and spoils her, knocking you down a peg?”
I nod. “Exactly.”
Sean is the sweet guy. Kids love him, girls fawn at his feet, and there’s not a woman alive he can’t charm. There’s no doubt in my mind he’ll be Hadley’s favorite.
